Insert for floorings and pavements



P. GALAssl INSERT FOR FLOORINGS AND PAVEMENTS Filed Jan. 1s, 1928 July 2E, 1929..

PASQUALE GALASSI, @JF NEW Y0? MEME@ NT FFQEQ PATE MSERT FOR FLOORXNGS AND P AENTS,

Application ledilanuary 18,1928. Serial No. 247,618.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of floors of the terrazzo type and more particularl refers to a novel and improved element of oor construction, which is adapted to manifold increase the decorative possibilities of such floors, and which 1s also adapted to confer to said floors desirable and effective anti-slip properties.

Terrazzo, monolithic and similar floors Where various Combinations of design may be produced, usually comprise a foundation bed or layer of concrete, cement, marble or other suitable material and an upper or tinishing layer Which generally consists of a mixture of vmarble chips and cement, and which may be made in a number of diderent color combinations.

The upper layer which is placed in position While in a plastic condition, eventually hardens providing avery durable surface, capable of taking a high polish upon the completion of the finishing operations. lin order -to, localize cracks which may occur throughout the material of which the floor is composed, the upper layer is generally divided into panels or blocks or units by means of strips laid on top of or inserted through the foundation layer, said strips having their upper edges level With the surface of the floor and affording means for producing a great variety of designs and color effect. In practice, it has been found that terrazzo oors laid in the customary manner described, are effective, durable and relatively inexpensive, but being as they are extremely smooth, they do not afford sufiicient protection against V slipping.

This lack of anti-slip properties is especially objectionable in public buildings, corridors, halls, etc., and still more in such places where the oor slopes down an incline. In order to prevent accidents therefore, the upper layer of the terrazzo floors used in such places'is frequently made of some special composition containing amono its ingredients some anti-slip material; for instance, to the ordinary mixture of marble chips and cement, may be added a certain proportion of alundum or carborundum, or quartz sand, these materials being highly effective in increasing the frictional and adhesive properties'of the floor, but on the other hand, giving occurrence to some undesirable effects which are absent in terrazzo floors of ordinary construction.

For instance, anti-slip oors produced by to have their upper decorative edges means of compositions of the character specified are darker in texture than those produced in the usualcompositions, and do not take a good polish; furthermore, their cost is considerably higher, both because the cost of the Amaterial itself is higher and because the laying and. finishing operations required entailv the expenditure of considerable more time and labor.

Another objection which may be raised in connection with these doors, is that they easily and quickly collect dirt and dust, which can be removed only in part andvvith dilculty; from a sanitary standpoint therefore, these doors are inferior to terrazzo iloors of the ordinary type.

Terrazzo floors generally are furthermore subject to certain limitations. which are incident to the nature of the strips which are used in outlining their design so as to divide the floor into a number of units or panels. These .strips have frequently suificient ilexibility to permit their being bent around to form geometrical gures such as a circle, or square, or oval, etc., but here their possibilities from a decorative standpoint end.

By means of these strips it is possible to obtain a great number of pleasing combinations Where the panels formed in the floor are in all cases separated by continuous lengths of strips of a uniform thickness. Only elementary designs can-therefore be thus produced, and highly ornamented designs displaying more elaborate metallic outline effects are impractical or impossible to obtain. The primary object of this invention is to Bti provide a novel type of element for the construction of vterrazzo and similar floors, in the nature of an insert or centerpiece or rosette or other unit of decorative nature, providing individual designs in unit form, which can be embedded in the Hoor material, so as level with the surface of the floor.

ln terrazzo floors proper, these units should preferablybe used in conjunction with the ordinary dividing strips, because the necessity of'dividing the floor surface into panels or units still remains; but in such floors where a monolithic construction may be used, the inserts can also be used by themselves providing the only motive of decoration, or else they may also be used in conjunction with the strips as parts -of the general decorative scheme.

Another object of this invention is to provide decorative units of the character specified, adapted for use in connection with floors of the terrazzo type, said units being provided with means for joiningor combining them with dividing strips in order to produce various decorative schemes and combinations.

A further object is to provide unitary decorative elements of the character specified, which besides being adapted to produce novel and numerous designs and decorative effects, shall also be adapted to produce an anti-slip floor surface, such units being made with or being adapted to receive and retain anti-slip material the upper surface ofwhich will be iiush with the remaining surface of the floor.

A still further object is to provide decorative units of the character specified, adapted for use in floors made of originally plastic material and adapted by virtue of their construction to supplement or to entirely substitute the ornamental action now obtained by means of dividing strips; said decorative units being furthermore adapted to generate designs and decorative schemes which are entirely beyond the range of the possibilities afforlded by dividing strips and similar mater1a s.

Otherobjects andv advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set-forth and claimed inthe appended claims.

Decorative floor units embodying my invention may be produced in practically unlimited variety of designs, and sizes; and for a better understanding of my invention, in the annexed drawings I have shown a few representative types of units embodying my invention.

Referring to said drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view o f Va Hoor, the decorative motive of which is obtained entirelyvby means of rosettes or center pieces, embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a floor illustrating a combined effect of dividing strips and center pieces;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a different design;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a Hoor, formed entirely by square units adj oining one another; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of vanother floor, the decorative eect of which is obtained by means of spaced square units;

Fig. 6 is a plan View in an enlarged scale of a unit or rosette of the type illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a side view in elevation, partly broken away and sectioned of the same;

Fig. 8 is a plan viewof still another type of rosette or center piece;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view in elevation thereof;

Fig. l() is a plan view of a square unit or insert; and

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional elevation of the same through line ll-ll of Fig. 10, i1- lustrating the manner of placing the unit or insert in position.

From the drawings, Figs. 1 to 5, it may be seen that my novel and improved floor insert affords means for producing a practically unlimited variety of designs, which cannot be obtained by means of the dividing strips now used; and in so far as the ornamental features are concerned, it is, of course, immaterial whether the inserts are of antislip nature or not.

Thus in Fig. l, a pleasing design is obtained by arranged annular inserts 20 in parallel rows in staggered relation to one another; and in Fig. 2 another design is obtained by means of ordinary strips 21, 22, disposed Cross wise, so as to form a checkered design, and round inserts 23 arranged in the center of each square panel.

The design illustrated in Fig. 3 on the other hand, consists of parallel rows of round inserts 24, connected toone another by short lengths of dividing strips 25.

Fig. 4 illustrates a different type of insert 26, having a square outline and adapted therefore to be laid tile fashion so as to entirely cover the surface of the floor.v The same type of insert is illustrated in Fig. 5 95 Where said inserts 27 are spaced from each other and arranged in4 parallel rows.

The inserts may be made in any suitable or desired outline and are in the nature of skeleton open frames having vertically proJectlng rib members forming the desired design; 1n this manner, they may be fully embedded and retained in the material of which the floor is composed, the binding action taking placebetween the material and the inserts being similar to that now taking place between the material and the dividing strips.

In other words, the main body of the Hoor itself is still composed mainly of granolithic or marble composition; but the designs are obtained by means of rosettes or inserts forming the object of the present invention or by combinations or rosettes or inserts and dividing strips.

My invention may be carried into practice as stated,`by means of rosettes or inserts having plain edges, or else for special purposes, rosettes or inserts having anti-slip outlines may be produced. 4

In Figs. 6 to l1, of the drawings, I illus- 120 trate several types of rosettes or inserts adapted for .the production of anti-slip floors. For instance, the rosette illustrated in Fig. 6 is composedA of two concentric rings 29, 30, each formed with an open top dovetailed chamber 31, 32, which may be filled with lead o1' other suitable anti-slip material 33 as shown. The two rings are joined by a horizontal perforated rib 34 from which depends a circular rim 35 having a suitable depth.

maaien The lower portion of said rim is preferably notched as shown at 36, in order not to destroy the continuity of the material through which the rim is inserted, at the same time providing better anchoring properties. rlhe rim portion 35 is preferably provided vnvith flange segments such as 37, laterally pro3ecting therefrom, limiting the depth at Which the rim member is to be forced through the Ifoundation layer of theiioor.

The lower surface of these angs is prefrably at a distance from the upper surface of the rings, equivalent to the depth of the finishing layer of the door, so that When the inserts are set in position, they act as a gauge for determining the thickness of the finishing layer. At the same time the anges 37 also act as anchoring means binding the rosettes or inserts to theoor material.

ltf desired, a single circular Harige extending throughout the entire circumference of the insert may be provided, but 'f prefer to use anges of a segmental nature as shown, because it is thus possible to separate adjoining flanges by mea-ns of slots such as 38 pro-- viding housings through which the free ends of dividing strips such as 39 may be inserted.

Neither the dange or anges, nor the strip housings shov;r through when the rosette or insert is placed in position, so that a rosette of this character may/be used both for producing floors of the types illustrated in Figs.

l and 2, or for producing floors of the type illustrated in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 8 and 9, l illustrate another type of anti-slip circular rosette, having the outli'ne of a spoked- Wheel, the same comprising an annular head member 40 formed integral With radial members 4l, joined at the center to form the hub of the Wheel.

The entire structure describedis formed with an open top dovetailed chamber 42, which may be filled With anti-slip metal or composition 43, as shown.

rlhe annular head is provided with a de` pending rim member 44, the lower portion of which is preferably dented or notched as shown at 45 for the reasons stated before. Furthermore, said rim member is also pro vided with spaced laterally 'extending lugs or Harige members 46, 47, the members of each set being separated by a slot 48, affording means for the insertion of the free end of a dividing strip.

i The slots thus provided may nbe spaced along thecircumference of the rosette in any desired number, so that floor panels of various shapes may be formed by running door strips between rosettes at different angles.

ln Figs. 10, 11, l illustrate still another type of insert, which may be used inspaced arrangement as shown in Fig. 5 with o`r Without dividing strips, or which may be used in tile fashion in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. Said insert is a square outline, being formed by a square frame 49, the corners of which are joined by diagonal members 50, 51. rlhe skeleton frame thus obtained lis formed With an open top dovetailed chamber 52, adapted to receive and retain anti-slip material 53.

Like in the previous case, the outer portion of the frame is provided with a depending rib member 54, formed with laterally extending flangetor lug sections 55, providing slots such as 56 at convenient places for the insertion of the ends of -dividing strips which may be used to connect one unit to another. However, When these inserts are to beused in contiguous arrangement tile fashion as illustrated in Fig. 4, the lugor ange members Will naturally be omitted.

The actual application of one of these inserts in a floor is illustrated in Fig. 11 Where 57 designates the floor foundation, 58 the foundation layer or bed, and 59 the finishing layer of the floor. lt Will be observed that the flanges 55 rest directly on top of the surface of the foundation layer 58thus ei'ectively supporting the insert in position and causing ,the upper surface thereof to define the depth at which the finishing layer of the floor must be laid.

It is obvious that although the drawings Figs. 6 to l1, illustrate frame members formed with open top chambers, adapted to receive anti-slip material, it is quite possible to produce inserts intended for decorative purpose only, and for localizing cracks, having solid metal edges, showing through the surface of the floor, in a manner similar to that of dividing strips of the ordinary type.

In so far as l know `it is new vto use inserts in terrazzo and similar floors, and especially inserts adapted to impart anti-slip properties to the floor. lt will also be observed that While the drawings show anti-slip units obtained by filling a chamber provided in the metallic head portion of a frame, as shown, this construction` being comparable to the one described in connection with anti-slip dividing strips, described and claimed in another application for patent, entitled, Methods of and means for producing anti-slip terrazzo floorings Serial No. 247,617, tiled January 18, 1928, it is within the scope of my invention to produce units o1. inserts in Which the entire head 1s made ot anti-slip .material or of an ordinary floor aggregate composition pressed or formed about the upper part of a supporting metal frame; this construction being in its turn comparable to the one described and claimed by mein another application for patent, entitled FloorL ing strips, also filed simultaneously herewith.

My invention also extends to the use of anti-slip inserts of any description in connection with floors of the character specified. Whether said anti-slip inserts include a metallic supporting frame or not. For instance, in the case of Fig. l, the circular block 20de CII limited by the inner circle of the annular structure may be made entirely of anti-slip material and may be used with or without the annular structure illustrated. Relatively small inserts may be used for this purpose which need not necessarily be of a decorative nature, and the same may be used with or without the dividing strips, as the case may From the foregoing it will be seen that my inventive idea may be carried into practice in a number of different ways and that the drawings will have to .be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. l accordingly reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of floor composition, when in its plastic condition, and anchoring means therefor integral with said frame.

2. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar iioors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of floor composition, when in its plastic condition, and anchoring means therefor integral with and laterally projecting from said frame.

A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed `in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of fioo'r composition, whenin its plastic condition, and means integral with said frame for connecting said frame to a floor dividing strip or strips.

4. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of oor composition, when in its plastic condition, anchoring means therefor integral with said frame and means also integral with said frame for connecting said frame to a floor dividing strip or strips.

5. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integralV therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardlyriphery of said frame adapted to receive and j retain the ends of floor dividing strips.

6. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of floor composition, when in its plastic condition, said rib having a chamber and a filling for said chamber made of anti-slip material.

7. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, compris-ing an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardl projecting therefrom, said frame and ri member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of floor composition, when in its plastic condition, said rib member having an open top chamber, and a body of material having a coeiiicient of friction higher than that out of which the device itself is made, inserted within said chamber.

' 8. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said `frame and rib member forming alatticed structure, adapted t-o be inserted through and to be retained by a body of Hoor composition, when in its plastic condition, said rib member having an open top chamber, a body of material having a coefficient of friction higher than that out of which the device itselfis made, inserted within said chamber and anchoring means for said device integral with said frame.

9. A unitary insertl for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming' a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of Hoor composition, when in its plastic condition, said rib member having an open top chamber, a body of material having a coefficient of friction higher than that out of which the device itself is made, inserted within said chamber, and nieans integral with said frame for connecting said frame Ato a. floor dividing strip or strips.

10. A unitary insert for terrazzo and similar floors, comprising an open metal framel having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be inserted through and to be retained by a body of floor composition, when in its plastic condition, said rib member having an open top chamber, a body of material having a coeiicient of friction higher than that out of which the device itself is made, inserted within said chamber, anchoring means for said device integral with and laterally` projecting from said frame. and means spaced along the periphery of said frame for receiving and retaining the end of floor dividing strips.

11. A terrazzo or similar floor, comprising a foundation bed and an upper layer of floor composition, and a plurality of unitary inserts inserted therethrough mined arrangement, said inserts each comprising an open metal frame having a rib member integral therewith formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said rib member having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be surrounded by said floor composition, said frame having means for anchoring it to said foundation bed.

12. A terrazzo or similar ioor, comprising a body of ioor composition, a plurality of unitary inserts inserted therethrough in a predetermined arrangement, said inserts each comprising an open metal frame having a rib member formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said rib member having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, said frame and rib inember forming a latticed structure, adapted to be surrounded by said floor composition, and a plurality of dividing strips inserted through said Hoor composition having their upper edges level with the surface of the floor cooperating with said inserts in producing uan ornamental design for said floor.

13. A terrazzo or similar floor, comprising a body of floor composition,

in a predetera plurality of unitary inserts inserted therethrough in a predetermined arrangement, said inserts each comprising an open metal frame having a rib member lformed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said rib member having its upper edge level with the surface of the ioor, said frame and rib member forming a latticed structure, adapted to be surrounded by said floor composition, and a body of anti-slip material carriedby and following the outline of said rib member.

14. A terrazzo or similar floor, comprising a body of floor composition, a plurality of unitary inserts inserted therethrough in a predetermined arrangement, said inserts each comprising an open metal frame having a rib member formed in a predetermined design 'Y upwardly projecting therefrom, said rib member having its upper edge level with the.

surface of the floor, said frame and rib mem Aber forming a latticed structure, adapted to be surrounded by said ioor composition` said rib member being formed with an open top chamber and a body eiicient of friction higher than that of the material out of which the device itself is made, inserted within said chamber;

15. A terrazzo or similar floor, comprising a body of door composition, a plurality of unitary inserts inserted therethrough in a predetermined arrangement, said inserts each comprising an open metal frame anda rib member formed in a predetermined design upwardly projecting therefrom, said rib member having its upper edge level with the surface of thefloor, saidv frame and rib member forming a latticed structure'adapted to be surrounded by said Hoor composition, a

body of anti-slip material carried by and fol-v lowing the outline of said rib member, and a plurality of ioor dividing s trips upper edges level with the surface of the door, cooperating with said inserts in forming an ornamental design for said floor.

PASQUALE GALASSI.

of material having a co- I also inserted through said floor composition having their 

